Draft rigging



Set. l?, 935.

B. W. KADEL.

DRAFT RIGGING Filed Aug. 28, 1929 l l I I 1 I l l l I l I I l IlPatented Sept. 17, 1935 DRAFT RIGGING Byers W. Kadel, Baltimore, Md.,assignor to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofMaryland Application August 28, 1929, Serial No. 389,014

8 Claims. (Cl. 213-69) This invention relates to draft rigging and, moreparticularly, to the connection between a coupler, yoke and associatedcushioning mechanism in railway draft rigging, whereby relative .5angling between the parts is permitted.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is toprovide railway draft rigging involving a coupler, a yoke and associatedcushioning mechanism in which provision is l made for angling of thecoupler by the use of equalizing devices preferably disposed, not onlybetween the coupler and yoke, but between said members and associatedcushioning mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in

l railway draft rigging involving a key connected coupler and yoke withcushioning mechanism embraced between said yoke and coupler, preferablyseparate segmental shims at the ends of said cushioning mechanism forrespectively engaging the stem of the coupler and the rear end of theyoke to permit relative angling or equalization between the parts.

A further object of my invention is to provide railway draft rigginginvolving a key connected coupler and yoke operatively associated withcushioning mechanism in which curved equalizing shims are provided, notonly to permit angling between the coupler and yoke, but also betweenthe cushioning mechanism and said members.

A still further object of my invention is to provide cushioningmechanism particularly adapted for use with railway draft rigging inwhich each end of said mechanism is formed with a concavely curvedpocket with a conveXly curved shim seating therein and interlocked withrespect thereto, whereby associated draft rigging is permitted to angleor equalize with respect to said mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particulararrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparentas the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof isdefined by the appendy cushioning mechanism with the associatedsegmental shim removed.

Figure 4 is a perspective detailed view of one of the segmental shimsfor the cushioning mechanism. `5

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by likereference characters, I have shown the stem I of a coupler slotted at 2for receiving a draft key 3 connecting said coupler to a yoke l byextending through corre- 10 spending slots 5 in said yoke. Although inthe present embodiment I illustrate a yoke of the vertical type, I donot wish to be limited to this showing. The coupler and yoke are showndisposed between center or draft sills 6 which are l5 correspondinglyslotted at l, said yoke embracing cushioning mechanism 8,diagrammatically illustrated, which mechanism is received between thesills ii, front draft lugs 9, and rear draft lugs Ill which may be partof the backstop or center 20 filler casting i I. The front draft lugs Sare preferably slotted to correspond with the sills for receiving theends of the connecting key 3.

In order to permit angling of the coupler with respect to the yoke andcushioning mechanism 25 to thereby avoid strains when the coupler issubjected to draft or buffing forces, the slot 2 in the coupler stem Iis preferably enlarged to provide a pocket for receiving the equalizingshim I 2 which is notched or formed with webs or flanges 30 I3 embracingthe key 3 so that it seats thereon, the rear edge of said shim beingformed with a convex boss or extension Iii providing a convex bearingsurface I5 engaging a correspondingly curved Vconcave bearing surface Iton the .stem i 35 of the coupler. The slot 2 in the coupler is eX-tended forwardly of the front edge of the key 3 to permit the desiredhorizontal angling of said coupler without binding between the stem andthe key. It will,'of course, be understood that 40 a slight amount ofVertical angling is also permitted on account of the shim I2 looselyfitting on the key 3 so that the shim may angle or equalize slightly ina vertical direction on said key. The aforedescribed construction merelypermits angling between the coupler and yoke resulting in relativeswiveling at the bearing surfaces I5 and lI. When such movement takesplace, the rear end of the coupler stem engaging the cushioningmechanism 8 would tend to gouge the front face of said mechanism, if theengaging surfaces were plain with no provision for equalizing. It will,of course, be understood that as I have only diagrammaticallyillustrated the cushioning mechanism, I am only limited by the scope ofthe claims and not to Whether or not the ends of said mechanism, whichare shown broken away, each represent followers or one end a followerand the other a mechanism enclosing casing, or both ends casingsenclosing portions of the mechanism and adapted for relative movementtoward one another upon compression of the gear. In order to permit freeangling of the coupler stem with respect to the front end of themechanism 8, said front end is formed with a pocket I1 presenting aconcave bearing surface I8, preferably curved coaxially with the bearingsurface I6 in the coupler stem, when said stem is in engagement with thecushioning mechanism. Fitted in said pocket is a shim I9 preferablycorresponding generally in horizontal section with a circular segment,the rear or bearing surface 2D of which is preferably curved tocorrespond with the bearing surface I8 on the cushioning mechanism. Inorder to provide for maintaining the shim I9 in place in the pocket Il',said pocket is preferably defined by upper and lower flanges. 2Iapertured at 22, the lower aperture 22 being for receiving the lower oneof the guiding lugs 23 on the shim, with clearance therebetween for thedesired relative movement, and formed with inwardly extending guidinglugs 24 for engaging segmental notches 25 in the ends of the shim. Theguiding lugs 24 and 23 are so constructed that the shim may be slid infrom one side of the pocket II behind the lugs 24 until the lower lug 23drops into position in the lower aperture 22, as shown most clearly inFigure 2, said shim then being interlocked for limited equalizing orangling movement with respect to the cushioning mechanism, as will beunderstood.

The rear end of the cushioning mechanism is preferably formed with acorresponding pocket I'Ia receiving a correspondingly formed shim I9ainterlocked in the same manner with said mechanism. The front face 26 ofthe rearmost portion of the yoke 4 engages the rear or flat face of theshim [Se which, when the yoke angles with respect to the cushioningmechanism, results in corresponding swiveling movement of said shim inthe cushioning mechanism pocket.

From the foregoing disclosure of my invention, it will be seen that Ihave provided a coupler, yoke and associated cushioning mechanismconnection for permitting limited free angling between the parts in ahorizontal plain. Under the influence of draft forces, the rear end ofthe stem I is pulled away from the front end of the cushioning mechanism8 upon compression of said mechanism, and the angling takes place withmovement of the shim I2 in the coupler stem pocket and movement of theshim I9a in the cushioning mechanism pocket II, if the yoke angles withrespect to the cushioning mechanism. Under the influence of bufiingforces, however, the rearmost end of the yoke is free to move from therear end of the cushioning mechanism and the coupler angles with respectto the front end of said mechanism with swiveling between the front shimI9 and the cushioning mechanism, the coupler also swiveling about theshim I2, or the key and shim angling with said coupler as the key isthen free from strains, such buing force being transmitted directly fromthe coupler stem to the cushioning mechanism which is compressed againstthe rear lugs I0.

Although I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is tobe understood that the same is merely illustrative and thatmodifications may be made without departing from my invention or thespirit and scope of the claims following.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler, a yoke, meanspassing through slots in said coupler and yoke for connecting saidmembers, the slot in said coupler being enlarged to form a pocket with acurved bearing surface, a shim fitting said connecting means andreceived in said pocket, said shim being formed with a correspondinglycurved bearing portion engaging the bearing portion on the coupler,cushioning mechanism disposed between the rear ends of said yoke andcoupler, and equalizing means loosely disposed between the cushioningmechanism and the stem of the coupler and the rear end of the yoke,respectively, to permit relative angling of said coupler and yoke, theend portions of the cushioning mechanism being provided with shelfportions underlying and Supporting said equalizing means, said meansbeing provided with lugs interlockingly and loosely received inapertures in said shelf portions.

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler formed with aslot in the stem thereof, a yoke associated therewith and formed withregistering slots, a key passing through said slots for connecting saidcoupler and yoke, equalizing means disposed between the rear edge ofsaid key and said coupler for permitting relative angling of saidcoupler and key, cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke and disposedrearwardly of the stern of said coupler, the Walls of said cushioningmechanism respectively disposed adjacent the rear face of the couplerstem and the rear of said yoke having pockets provided wth concavebearing faces, and shims fitting in said pockets and provided withcorrespondingly curved convex bearing faces engaging the bearing facesin the pockets, the outer faces of said shims being substantially iiatand normally engaged by the rear face of the coupler and the front faceof the rear portion of the yoke, respectively, said shims being providedwith downwardly extending lugs received in apertures in underlying shelfportions on the cushioning mechanism, said cushioning mechanism beingprovided with lugs lying in front of the upper portions on said shims,whereby said shims are retained in position with respect to thecushioning I and yoke, cushioning mechanism disposed be,

tween the rear ends of said coupler and yoke, and equalizing meansloosely disposed between the cushioning mechanism and the stem of thecoupler to permit relative angling of said ooupler, the front endportion of said cushioning mechanism being provided with a shelfunderlying and supporting said equalizing means, said means beingprovided with a lug interlockingly and loosely received in an aperturein said shelf.

4. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler, a yoke,connecting means passing through slots in said coupler and yoke,cushioning mechanism disposed between the rear ends of said yoke andcoupler, and equalizing means loosely disposed between the cushioningmechanism and the stem of the coupler and the rear end of the yoke,respectively, to permit relative angling of the coupler and yoke, theend portions of the cushioning mechanism being provided with shelvesunderlying and supporting said equalizing means, said means beingprovided with lugs interlockingly and loosely received in apertures insaid shelves.

5. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler, a yoke,connecting means passing through slots in said coupler and yoke, theslot in said coupler being enlarged to form a pocket with a curvedbearing surface, a shim fitting said connecting means and received insaid pocket, said shim being formed with a correspondingly curvedbearing portion engaging the bearing portion on the coupler, cushioningmechanism disposed between the rear end of said yoke and coupler, andequalizing means loosely disposed between the cushioning mechanism andthe stem of the coupler to permit relative angling of said coupler, thefront end portion of the cushioning mechanism being provided with ashelf supporting said equalizing means, said means being provided with alug interlockingly and loosely received in an aperture in said shelf.

6. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler formed with aslot in the stem thereof, a yoke associated therewith and formed withregistering slots, and a connecting key passing through said slots,cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke and disposed rearwardly ofthe stem of said coupler, the wall of said cushioning mechanism adjacentthe rear face of the stem having a pocket provided With a concavebearing face, a shim fitting in said pocket and provided with acorrespondingly curved convex bearing face engaging the bearing face o-fthe pocket, the outer face of said shim being substantially flat andnormally engaged by the rear face of said coupler, said shim beingprovided with a downwardly extending lug received in an aperture in anunderlying shelf on the cushioning mechanism, said cushioning mechanismbeing provided with a positioning lug lying in fro-nt of an upperportion of said shim.

7. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler formed with aslo-t in the stem thereof, a yoke associated therewith and formed withregistering slots, a connecting key passing through said slots,cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke and disposed rearwardly ofthe stem of said coupler, the front and rear end walls of saidcushioning mechanism having pockets pro- 5 vided with concave bearingfaces, and shims fitting in said pockets and provided withcorrespondingly curved convex bearing faces engaging the bearing facesin the pockets, the outer faces of said shims being substantially at andnormal- 10 ly engaged by the rear face of the coupler and the front faceof the rear portion of the yoke, respectively, said shims being eachprovided with a downwardly extending lug received in an aperture in anunderlying shelf portion on the cush- 15 ioning mechanism, saidcushioning mechanism being provided with a lug at each end lying infront of the corresponding portions of said shims for retaining them inposition, while permitting a limited amount of movement.

8. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler formed with aslot in the stem thereof, a yoke associated therewith and formed withregistering slots, a connecting key passing through said slots,equalizing means disposed between the 25 rear edge of said key and saidcoupler for permitting relative angling of said coupler and key,cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke and disposed rearwardly ofthe stem of said coupler, the front wall of said cushioning mechanismhav- 30 ing a pocket provided with a concave bearing face, and a shimfitting in said pocket and provided with a correspondingly curved convexbearing face engaging the bearing face in the pocket, the outer face ofsaid shim being substantially flat and nor- 35 mally engaged by the rearface of the coupler, said shim being provided with a downwardlyextending lug received in an aperture in a shelf portion on thecushioning mechanism, said cushioning mechanism having a lug lying infront of the 40 upper portion of said shim for retaining it in place.

BYERS W. KADEL.

